Wireless floating horn switch

ABSTRACT

A base insert, a wireless floating horn switch including an insulated base insert, and a steering wheel assembly including a wireless floating horn switch, the wireless floating horn switch is constructed so that it can operate in association with an air-bag assembly to actuate a horn circuit when pressure is applied to the air-bag assembly. The wireless floating horn circuit includes an insulated base insert, an horn circuit connector, an attaching assembly for uniting an air-bag mounting bracket with the insulated base insert, and spring for urging the mounting bracket away from the insulated base insert, a contact and an activator for urging the contact to complete the horn circuit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

This invention concerns an electrically conductive base insert for usein a wireless floating horn switch assembly. The wireless floating hornswitch is installed on a steering wheel and an air bag is installed tothe wireless floating horn switch assembly. The switch allows the hornto be activated by pressing the air bag assembly. This invention alsoincludes a steering wheel assembly comprising the wireless floating hornswitch of this invention.

(2) Description of the Art

Traditional steering wheels include horn activators that are located inthe center of or around the periphery of a steering wheel. The horncircuit is activated by pressing the center of the steering wheel or bypressing the horn actuator. With the advent of steering wheel mountedair-bags however, automobile horns were moved to discrete small buttonslocated towards the periphery of the steering wheel because the air-bagassemblies occupies all the space in the center of the steering wheel.There was a need, therefore, for a horn that could be actuated bypressing the center region of a steering column containing an air-bag.

The inventor became aware of the need for a center region actuated horncircuit complementary to an air-bag assembly when he was presented witha potential design for a wireless floating horn switch. The circuitdisclosed to the inventor included a top circuit integral to a bracketcooperative with the air-bag assembly and a separate bottom circuit.When the top and bottom circuits were united, the horn sounded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a horn switch wherein allof the horn circuitry is incorporated into a single piece wirelessfloating horn switch.

It is another object of this invention to provide an electricallyconductive base insert comprising the horn circuitry and optionalauxiliary circuits.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a wirelessfloating horn switch that is cooperative with an air-bag assembly andthat is center actuated.

It is another object of this invention to provide a wireless floatinghorn switch that is cheaply made, modular, and easily replaced.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a wirelessfloating horn switch that is complementary to an air-bag but which isisolated from the air-bag circuitry.

In one embodiment, this invention is an electrically conductive baseinsert for use in a wireless floating horn switch. The electricallyconductive base insert comprises a flat electrical conductor including ahorn circuit having at least one access pad, and a ground circuit. Theelectrically conductive base insert includes a plurality of tie-insuniting the ground circuit and the horn circuit to stabilize the baseinsert. Additionally, the electrically conductive base insert mayinclude one or more auxiliary circuits.

In another embodiment, this invention is a wireless floating horn switchassembly. The wireless floating horn switch assembly includes aninsulated electrically conductive base insert having a horn circuit withone or more exposed access pads, and a ground circuit. The wirelessfloating horn switch also includes a connector associated with both thehorn circuit and the ground circuit. The connector unites the hornswitch with the horn, with a source of electricity, and with a groundcircuit. A bracket is movably attached to the base insert with at leastone attaching assembly. The attaching assembly includes a boltcomplementary to an aperture in the insulated electrically conductivebase insert. A spring contacts the insulated electrically conductivebase insert and the bracket to urge the bracket away from the insulatedelectrically conductive base insert. The spring is stabilized by thebolt. When installed in a steering wheel and pressed, the bracket movestoward the base insert thereby depressing the spring. The wirelessfloating horn switch is attached to a steering wheel by an attachingmeans. Preferably the attaching means is the same bolt that is used inthe attaching assembly to attach the bracket to the base insert. Thewireless floating horn switch also includes a contact complementary toeach exposed access pad. The contact includes one or more tabs which arein continuous contact with the ground circuit, and a means capable ofreversibly striking an exposed access pad. Finally, the wirelessfloating horn switch includes an actuator responsive to the movement ofthe moveable bracket. The actuator urges the contact means intoelectrical communication with an exposed access pad. When the contactstrikes the exposed access pad, the horn circuit is completed activatingthe horn.

In another embodiment, this invention is a steering wheel assembly. Thesteering wheel assembly includes a steering wheel, a wireless floatinghorn switch, and an air-bag assembly. The steering wheel includes aplurality of centrally located apertures complementary to the wirelessfloating horn switch. The wireless floating horn switch is attached tothe steering wheel with partially threaded bolts which pass through thebracket and the insulated electrically conductive base insert of thewireless floating horn switch and thread into the centrally locatedapertures in the steering wheel. The wireless floating horn switchincludes an insulated electrically conductive base insert having a horncircuit with one or more exposed access pads, a ground circuit and anoptional auxiliary circuit. A connector is associated with both the horncircuit and the ground circuit. A bracket complementary to an air bagassembly is movably associated with the insulated electricallyconductive base insert. The wireless floating horn switch is attached tothe steering wheel with a plurality of partially threaded bolts eachwhich pass through an aperture the bracket and the switch and which arethreaded into the steering wheel. A spring divides and contacts thebracket and the insulated electrically conductive base insert. Thespring acts to urge the bracket away from the base insert. A contact iscomplementary to each exposed access pad. The contact continuouslycontacts the ground circuit and includes a means operative with anactuator for reversibly striking the exposed access pad. The actuator isresponsive to the movement of the reversible bracket and urges thecontact into communication with the exposed access pad when the bracketis urged towards the base insert. The actuator is made of anelectronically insulating material. The actuator is associated with abracket aperture to insulate each spring from the metal bracket and toinsulate each bolt from the metal bracket. Finally, the steering wheelincludes an air bag assembly attached to the bracket with a plurality ofattaching means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

There is shown in the drawings a presently preferred embodiment of thewireless floating horn switch of this invention wherein like numerals inthe various figures pertain to like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an overhead view of a wireless floating horn switch of thisinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of wireless floating horn switch of this inventionin an unactuated position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the wireless floating horn switch of thisinvention showing the horn circuit in an actuated position.

FIG. 4 depicts a base insert of this invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a wireless floating horn switch of thisinvention.

FIG. 6 is an overhead view of an insulated base insert of thisinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a novel electronically conductive baseinsert useful in a wireless floating horn switch, a wireless floatinghornswitch incorporating the base insert, and a steering wheel assemblyincluding a steering wheel, the wireless floating horn switch of thisinvention, and an air-bag assembly. The base insert and wirelessfloating horn switch of this invention are better understood byreference to FIGS. 1 through 6 which depict various aspects of apreferred base insert and wireless floating horn switch of thisinvention.

FIG. 4 shows a base insert of this invention. Base insert 10 includeshorn circuit 12, ground circuit 16 and optional auxiliary circuit 20.Base insert 10 also includes horn circuit connector tines 13A-13C. Tine13A corresponds to the horn circuit, tine 13B corresponds to the groundcircuit and tine 13C corresponds to the auxiliary circuit. Base insert10 also includes an auxiliary circuit connector tines 21A-21B. Tine 21Acorresponds to ground circuit 16 and tine 21B corresponds to auxiliarycircuit 20.

Base insert 10 is the "circuit" portion of the wireless floating hornswitch of this invention. Base insert 10 is manufactured from anelectrically conductive material such as copper, bronze or a conductivemetal alloy. Preferably, base insert 10 of this invention ismanufactured from Phosphor-Bronze Alloy No. 510. Base insert 10 of thisinvention has athickness sufficient to prevent any warping prior to andwhile insulating base insert 10 with an insulating material. However, itis also desirable to limit the thickness of base insert 10 to minimizethe amount and cost of the alloy used to manufacture the base insert. Itis preferred that base insert 10 have a thickness of from about 0.010 to0.015 inches.

Tie-ins 18 are associated with the uninsulated base insert 10. Tie-ins18 temporarily unite the various circuits making up base insert 10 addin order to rigidity to base insert 10. Additionally, tie-ins 18 providepoints where base insert 10 can be grasped during the base insertinsulating process. When base insert 10 is insulated, the tie-ins 18 areobliterated by drilling or by any other means capable of obliteratingtie-ins 18.

Stabilizing bar 17 is also associated with the uninsulated base insert10. Stabilizing bar 17 helps to keep uninsulated base insert 10 fromwarping or bending during base insert insulation. Stabilizing bar 17 isnot insulated and once base insert 10 is insulated with an insulatedmaterial,stabilizing bar 17 is removed.

Horn circuit 12 of base insert 10 includes a plurality of access pads14. Access pads 14 remain exposed after base insert 10 is insulated andprovide a location at which the horn circuit can be completed.

Ground circuit 16 includes a plurality of ground pads 19. Each groundpad 19 is located adjacent to an access pad 14. The purpose of groundpad 19 is to provide a location adjacent to an access pad 14 where thehorn circuit is completed by electronically uniting horn circuit 12 andground circuit 16.

Base insert 10 may include one or more auxiliary circuits. An auxiliarycircuit is typically associated with an electronic device located on thesteering wheel. Such auxiliary electronic devices include cruise controlcircuitry, cruise control backlighting circuitry, air bag circuitry, orany other circuitry associated with a steering wheel. The number ofauxiliary circuits included in base insert 10 is limited only by thebase insert size constraints resulting from the design and size of thesteeringwheel in which the wireless floating horn switch of thisinvention will be installed.

Ground pads 19 include an aperture 15. Aperture 15 is complementary tothe location of threaded apertures on a steering wheel. An attachingmeans will pass through aperture 15 and will unite the wireless floatinghorn switch with the steering wheel. It is not required that aperture 15be associated with ground pad 19. The circuit that has been beingdefined above as ground circuit 16 could alternatively be horn circuit12 while horn circuit 12 could alternatively be ground circuit 16. Whatis requiredis that base insert 10 includes at least a horn circuit 12and a ground circuit 16, with one circuit including access pads adjacentto aperture containing pads associated with the other circuit.

Base insert 10 is covered with an electrically inert insulating materialtodefine an insulated base insert 30 shown in FIG. 6. The insulatingmaterialshould be a material that is capable of curing into a rigidmaterial thereby providing the insulated base insert 30 with structuralintegrity. Any rigid electrically inert plastic or thermoplasticmaterial can be usedas the insulating material. It is preferred that theinsulating material isglass filled, low shrinkage polymer, andpreferably glass filled polyester PBT.

Insulated base insert 30 will include an aperture associated with eachtie-in 18. Additionally, stabilizing bar 17 will remain uninsulated. Atthis point, each tie-in 18 will be obliterated by drilling or by someother means and stabilizing bar 17 will be cut from insulated baseinsert 30. Once all tie-ins are obliterated, ground circuit 16, horncircuit 12 and auxiliary circuit 20 are electrically isolated from oneanother in insulated base insert 30. FIG. 6 depicts an insulated baseinsert 30 readyfor use in a wireless floating horn circuit of thisinvention with obliterated tie-ins 18 and with stabilizing bar 17removed.

FIGS. 1-3 and 5-6 show various aspects of the wireless floating hornswitchof this invention. The wireless floating horn switch 25 of thisinvention includes an insulated base insert 30 having a plurality ofexposed access pads 31. Additionally, insulated base insert includeshorn connector 32 and auxiliary connector 33A and 33B. Wireless floatinghorn switch 25 alsoincludes attaching assembly 34 including bolt 36which passes through firstaperture 38 in a mounting bracket 42. Actuator48 made of an electrically insulating material is associated with FirstAperture 38 so that bolt 36 is electrically insulated from metalmounting bracket 42. Generally, actuator 48 will include a sleevedaperture complementary to first aperture 38 that electrically insulatesthe inner dimension of first aperture 48. After passing through firstaperture 38, bolt 36 passes through second aperture 39 in insulated baseinsert 30. Spring 40 is located between mounting bracket 42 andinsulated base insert 30. Contact 44 is continuously associated withground circuit 16 of insulated base insert 30. Contact 44 also includesa means for completing the horn circuit that is responsive to themovement of mounting bracket 42 towards insulated base insert 30.Finally, actuator 48 is associated with mountingbracket 42. Actuator 48is an insulator. It acts to electrically insulate bolt 36 and spring 40from metal mounting bracket 42. Actuator 48 also works in cooperationwith movement of mounting bracket 42 towards insulated base insert 30 tocause contact 44 to complete the horn circuit.When the horn circuit iscompleted, the horn sounds.

Insulated base insert 30 includes base insert 10 surrounded by rigidinsulating material. Insulated base insert 30 includes a plurality ofexposed access pads 31. The exposed access pads are associated with horncircuit 12 but may alternatively be associated with ground circuit 16.Thepurpose of exposed access pad 31 is to provide a location at whichthe horncircuit can be completed by means of contact 44 external toinsulated base insert 30. Additionally, insulated base insert 30includes an aperture 39 complementary to each aperture 15 in ground pad19. Each aperture 39 is also complementary to bolt 36 which passesthrough aperture 39 and which attaches to a steering wheel. Insulatedbase insert 30 also includes a plurality of tab holes 35 associated witheach ground pad 19. Tab holes 35pass through the insulating material andexpose a portion of ground pad 19.Tabs 45 integral to contact 44 passthrough tab holes 35 and contact groundpad 19.

It is not necessary that exposed access pad 31 are associated with horncircuit 12 or that tab holes 35 are associated with ground circuit 16.It is necessary that both horn circuit 12 and ground circuit 16 eachinclude some type of means for completing the horn circuit. In thepreferred embodiment that means is contact 44 which reversibly unitesthe horn and ground circuits.

Insulated base insert 30 includes at least one horn connector 32, andmay include one, two or more optional auxiliary connectors 33A and 33B.Horn connector 32 includes cover 37 which is complementary to aconnector associated with a source of electricity and the horn. Cover 37provides a means to lock the complementary connector to the wirelessfloating horn switch and it also insulates and protects the connectorfrom other electrical connections. Horn connector 32 includes threetines. One tine is associated with a source of electricity, a secondtine is associated with the horn circuit and a third tine is associatedwith the ground circuit. Auxiliary connector 33A and 33B each includesat least two tines,a tine associated with the ground circuit and a tineassociated with an auxiliary device such as cruise control or some otherdevice.

Wireless floating horn switch 25 includes one or more mounting brackets42.Mounting bracket 42 serves at least two functions. First, mountingbracket 42 includes apertures complementary to an air-bag assembly. Anair-bag assembly is attached to the apertures on mounting bracket 42with an attaching means such as a bolt. To secure the air bag assemblyto a steering wheel. It is preferred that mounting brackets 42 are madeof a metal or a metal inserted plastic member to provide a solidmounting surface for the air bag assembly.

Mounting bracket 42 is also movably associated with insulated baseinsert 30 by means of spring 40. Spring 40 urges mounting bracket 42away from insulated base insert 30. Mounting bracket 42 can be movedtowards insulated base insert 30 by applying pressure to mountingbracket 42 or tothe air bag assembly associated with mounting bracket42. Typically, pressure is applied to mounting bracket 42 by pushing onan air-bag assembly associated with the mounting bracket 42.

Mounting bracket 42 may be a one-piece bracket, it may be a two-piecebracket or it may have three or more pieces depending on theconfigurationof the insulated base insert 30, the air bag assembly andthe steering wheel. Preferably, mounting bracket 42 includes a rightbracket 42A and a left bracket 42B. A multiple piece mounting bracketallows the horn circuit to be activated by applying downward force toany portion of an air bag attached to the mounting bracket. A singlepiece mounting bracket,while effective in activating the horn circuitwill require a greater center pressure to activate the horn.

Mounting bracket 42 also provides a base for an air-bag assembly.Additionally, mounting bracket 42 orients the air-bag assembly so thatit is properly located to the steering wheel. Finally, mounting bracket42 provides a base for movably securing the wireless floating hornswitch 25 to a steering wheel.

Wireless floating horn switch 25 includes at least one attachingassembly 34, for stabilizing mounting bracket 42 and uniting wirelessfloating hornswitch 25 with a steering wheel. Attaching assembly 34 willtypically be a threaded bolt 36 or an equivalent attaching device. Bolt36 passes throughfirst aperture 38 of mounting bracket 42 and throughsecond aperture 29 of insulated base insert 30, and is threaded into athreaded aperture associated with a steering wheel. Bolt 36 may bethreaded through aperture39. Bolt 36 however, is not threaded throughinsulated first aperture 37 associated with mounting bracket 42.Mounting bracket 42 must be able to move freely towards insulated baseinsert 30. Threading bolt 36 to mounting bracket 42 would inhibit themovement of mounting bracket 42.

Bolt 36 includes a bolt head 41. Bolt head 41 contacts the face ofmountingbracket 42 to and prevents mounting bracket 42 from beingcompletely urged away from insulated base insert 30 by spring 40. Bolthead 41 is separatedfrom mounting bracket 42 with washer 43 which iselectrically inert. Washer43 is preferably manufactured of a softelectric and sound insulating material such as silicone rubber. Washer43 prevents bolt 36 and mounting bracket 32 from contacting and makingnoise.

Preferably, bolt 36 is partially threaded and aperture 39 is associatedwith insulated base insert 30 is also threaded. Prior to installation inasteering wheel, bolt 36 will be threaded in aperture 39.

The threads have nothing to do with movement of mounting bracket 42.Bracket 42 moves on the large diameter of bolt 36.

Wireless floating horn switch 25 includes contact 44. Contact 44 is themeans for intermittently and reversibly uniting ground circuit 16 withhorn circuit 12 to actuate the automobile horn. Contact 44intermittently activates the horn circuit by remaining in continuouscontact with either horn circuit 12 or ground circuit 16 and providing ameans for intermittently contacting the alternate circuit. In theembodiment depicted in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, contact 44 continuouslycontacts ground pad 19 via a plurality of tabs 45. Tabs 45 pass throughtab holes 35 in insulated base insert 30 and continuously contact groundcircuit 16 at ground pad 19.

The preferred contact 44 of this invention, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and5, includes arm 46 which incorporates a moveable contact means forreversiblycompleting the horn circuit when actuated by actuator 48. Arm46 of contact44 is preferably a cantilever arm or a spring arm. Arm 46is oriented so that it contacts an exposed access pad 31 associated withthe horn circuitwhen actuated by actuator 48. Contact 44 is manufacturedout of an electrically conductive material such as copper, bronze,Phosphor-Bronze Alloy No. 510, or any other metal or alloy that iselectrically conductive.

It is anticipated that contact 44 may not continuously contact eitherground circuit 16 or horn circuit 12 but will include two means forreversibly and is simultaneously contacting both ground circuit 16 andhorn circuit 12. Such means may include spring arms as described above,the spring arms being forced into contact with the circuits by anactuatorassociated with both spring arms.

Spring 40 located between mounting bracket 42 and insulated base insert30 urges mounting bracket 42 away from insulated base insert 30. Spring40 may be associated with mounting bracket 42 in any manner known in theart that will allow spring 40 to urge mounting bracket 42 away frominsulated base insert 30.

Preferably, spring 40 is a helical coil spring which encompasses eachbolt 36 associated with each attaching assembly 34. When installed on asteering wheel, bolt 36 will be threaded into place in the steeringwheel and will pass through the center of and partially compress eachspring 40.Thus, spring 40 will always be under tension caused bymounting bracket 42.

Preferably, spring 40 will hold contact 44 in place. By urging contact44 into contact with insulated base insert 30. Additionally, the size ofspring 40 will determine the amount of pressure required to activate thehorn. A weak spring will mean that little pressure will be required toactivate the horn while a strong spring will require a greater amount ofpressure to be applied on mounting bracket 42 to actuate the horn.

Finally, wireless floating horn switch 25 includes actuator 48. Actuator48includes a means for inducing contact 44 to reversibly unite horncircuit 12 with ground circuit 16 to actuate a horn when mountingbracket 42 is moved towards insulated base insert 30. The preferredactuator 48 is manufactured of an electrically inert material such asplastic and it is installed on mounting bracket 42 integral to eachaperture 38.

Actuator 48 preferably includes a pin 49 complementary to spring arm 46of contact 44. Actuator 48 is integral to or is forced by spring 40 intowithcontacts mounting bracket 42. The movement of mounting bracket 42towards insulated base insert 30 causes pin 49 to contact spring arm 46and urge spring arm 46 into contact with exposed access pad 31 therebyuniting horncircuit 12 and ground circuit 16 to activate the horn.

Actuator 48 insulates bolt 36 and spring 40 from mounting bracket 42.Actuator 48 typically will include a base piece with a sleeved aperturecomplementary to aperture 38 in mounting bracket 42 and a pin 49.Actuatoraperture 48 is complementary to aperture 38 and to bolt 36. Thebase of actuator 48 remains in continuous contact with mounting bracket42 while pin 49 of actuator 48 is oriented perpendicular to the actuatorbase. Pin 49 will typically be located directly adjacent to an exposedaccess pad 31. Contact 44 will lie between pin 49 and exposed access pad31. The length of pin 49 will be selected so that pin 49 reversiblyforces contact44 into contact with exposed access pad 31 withoutdeforming contact 44.

Wireless floating horn switch 25 of this invention is useful inassociationwith a steering wheel assembly including a steering wheel, awireless floating horn switch, and an air bag assembly. Wirelessfloating horn switch 25 is attached to the steering wheel with at leastone attaching means. Preferably the attaching means used to attach thewireless floatinghorn switch to the steering wheel is attaching assembly34. As explained above, bolt 36 is preferably partially threaded. Bolt36 freely passes through insulated first aperture 38 and through secondaperture 39 before being threaded into a threaded aperture associatedwith the steering wheel.

The wireless floating horn switch of this invention preferably includesfour attaching assemblies located at approximately evenly spacedintervalsaround the periphery of the mounting bracket 42. The four boltsassociated with the four attaching assemblies will be threaded into fourcomplementary threaded apertures in a steering wheel. An air-bagassembly is attached to mounting bracket 42. Mounting bracket 42includes a plurality of apertures 50 complementary to attaching meanslocated on the air-bag assembly. It is anticipated that the wirelessfloating horn switchof this invention can include an auxiliary circuitcomplementary to the air-bag assembly.

The horn of a vehicle having the assembled steering wheel of thisinventionis actuated, as shown in FIG. 3, by applying pressure to theair-bag assembly portion of the steering wheel. Applying pressure to theair-bag will cause mounting bracket 42 to move toward insulated baseinsert 30 causing pin 49 of actuator 48 to move contact 44 intoreversible contact with horn circuit 12 thereby completing the horncircuit and activating the horn. When the pressure is removed from theair-bag assembly, spring 40 urges mounting bracket 42 and activator 48away from insulator base insert 30 thereby allowing contact 44 to moveaway from exposed access pad31 opening the horn circuit as shown in FIG.2.

The description above has been offered for illustrative purposes only,and it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention of thisapplicationwhich is defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:
 1. An electrically conductive base insert for use in awireless floating horn switch comprising:an insulated flat electricalconductor including a horn circuit having at least one exposed accesspad; a ground circuit; at least one connector associated with both thehorn circuit and the ground circuit; at least one moveable bracketunited with the base insert by at least one attaching assembly; a springcontacting the insulated electrically conductive base insert and thebracket for urging the bracket away from the insulated conductive baseinsert; a contact capable of reversibly striking the exposed access padto complete the horn circuit; the moveable bracket urging the contactinto electrical communication with the exposed access pad; and aninsulator made of an electrically inert material including a sleevedaperture complementary to a first aperture on the bracket.
 2. Theelectrically conductive base insert of claim 1 including an auxiliarycircuit.
 3. The electrically conductive base insert of claim 1 includinga stabilizer bar.
 4. The electrically conductive base insert of claim 1wherein the base insert is manufactured from phosphorous/bronze alloy.5. The electrically conductive base insert of claim 1 having a thicknessof between 0.010 and 0.015 inches.
 6. A wireless floating horn switchcomprising:an insulated electrically conductive base insert including aground circuit and a horn circuit, and at least one exposed access pad;at least one connector associated with both the horn circuit and theground circuit; at least one moveable bracket united with the baseinsert by at least one attaching assembly; a spring contacting theinsulated electrically conductive base insert; a contact complementaryto the horn circuit and the ground circuit, the contact capable ofreversibly striking the exposed access pad to complete the horn circuitwherein the contact continuously contacts the ground circuit and furtherwherein the contact is located between the spring and the electricallyconductive base insert; and an actuator responsive to the movement ofthe moveable bracket for urging the contact into electricalcommunication with the exposed access pad.
 7. The wireless floating hornswitch of claim 6 wherein the bracket is a two-piece bracket.
 8. Thewireless floating horn switch of claim 6 including at least oneauxiliary circuit, each auxiliary circuit including at least oneauxiliary connector.
 9. The wireless floating horn switch of claim 8including a cruise control circuit.
 10. The wireless floating hornswitch of claim 8 including a cruise control backlighting circuit. 11.The wireless floating horn switch of claim 6 wherein the bracketincludes an attaching means complementary to an air bag assembly. 12.The wireless floating horn switch of claim 6 wherein the exposed accesspad is associated with the horn circuit.
 13. The wireless floating hornswitch of claim 6 wherein the contact includes a spring arm capable ofstriking the exposed access pad.
 14. The wireless floating horn switchof claim 16 wherein the spring arm is a lever arm spring or a cantileverspring.
 15. The wireless floating horn switch of claim 6 wherein theattaching assembly includes a partially threaded bolt.
 16. The wirelessfloating horn switch of claim 15 wherein a rubber washer is locatedbetween a head of the partially threaded bolt and the bracket.
 17. Awireless floating horn switch comprising:an insulated electricallyconductive base insert including a horn circuit having one or moreexposed access pads and a ground circuit; at least one connectorassociated with both the horn circuit and the ground circuit; a bracketattached to the base insert by four attaching assemblies, each attachingpartially threaded bolts each partially threaded bolt complementary toan insulated first aperture in the bracket a threaded second aperture inthe insulated electrically conductive base insert and complementary to athreaded aperture in a steering wheel, an electrically inert washerlocated between a bolt head on each bolt and the bracket; a contactcomplementary to each exposed access pad including one or more tabs incontinuous contact with the ground circuit and a contact arm capable ofreversibly striking the exposed access pad to complete the horn circuit,the contact including an aperture complementary to the partiallythreaded bolt; an insulated actuator integral to each first apertureincluding a pin responsive to the movement of the moveable bracket tourging the contact arm into electrical communication with an exposedaccess pad of the horn circuit; and a spring complementary to each boltand contacting the insulated electrically conductive base insert and abase portion of the actuator associated with the bracket for urging thebracket away from the insulated electrically conductive base insert. 18.A steering wheel assembly comprising:a steering wheel having a pluralityof centrally located apertures; a wireless floating horn switchincluding an insulated electrically conductive base insert having a horncircuit including one or more exposed access pads and a ground circuit,a connector associated with the horn circuit and the ground circuit, abracket movably associated with the base insert and including aplurality of insulated first apertures, a plurality of bolts passingthrough the insulated first apertures and passing through secondapertures in the insulated electrically conductive base insert andsecured to the plurality of centrally located apertures in the steeringwheel, a contact complementary to each exposed access pad in continuouscontact with the ground circuit, each contact capable of reversiblystriking the exposed access pad to complete the horn circuit, aninsulator integral to the moveable bracket urging the contact intoelectrical communication with the exposed access pad of the horncircuit, a spring contacting the insulated electrically conductive baseinsert and the bracket to urge the bracket away from the insulatedelectrically conductive base insert; the contact abuts the spring and isin continuous electrical contact with the ground circuit; and an air bagassembly attached to the bracket.
 19. A wireless floating horn switchcomprising:an insulated electrically conductive base insert including aground circuit and a horn circuit, and at least one exposed access pad;at least one connector associated with both the horn circuit and theground circuit; at least one moveable bracket united with the baseinsert by at least one attaching assembly; a spring contacting theinsulated electrically conductive base insert; a contact complementaryto the horn circuit and the ground circuit, the contact capable ofreversibly striking the exposed access pad to complete the horn circuit;and an actuator responsive to the movement of the moveable bracket forurging the contact into electrical communication with the exposed accesspad wherein the actuator is made of an electrically inert material andincludes a sleeve aperture complementary to a first aperture on thebracket.